EP0853860B1 - Method of connection set-up for group and/or conference calls - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to create message connections for group and/or multiaddress calls for subscriber terminals at least one of which is a mobile telephone device (TM111) in a mobile telephone network (M1), a conference bridge (KB10) is connected in the mobile telephone network (M1) through which the transmission channels of a number of subscriber devices can be interconnected. The transmission channels of the dispatchers and the uplinks of the other subscriber devices are connected to the inputs of the conference bridge, while the common output signals of the conference bridge are distributed to all the subscriber devices. To allow the possibility of including subscriber devices outside the area served by a mobile telephone exchange, data are requested by a group call anchor mobile telephone exchange (MSC10) from a group call register (GCR10) with the help of which in other mobile telephone exchanges (MSC12, MSC20) one of the following occurs: either individual call requests for individual subscriber devices in the areas served by these other mobile telephone exchanges (MSC12, MSC20) and/or in a fixed network (F1, F2) can be made, without a second conference bridge being connected in each of the areas served by the other mobile telephone exchanges (MSC12, MSC20); or a second group or multiaddress call request is made in the area served by another mobile telephone exchange (MSC112, MSC20), a second conference bridge (KB12) being connected; or a second group- or multiaddress call request is made via the fixed network (F1) in a second mobile radio network (M2).

Description

State of the art

The invention is based on the genus, as in the independent Claim 1 specified.

Group communication VGCS (Voice Group Call Service) within the mobile radio system based on the GSM (Global System For Mobile Communications) specification allowed a predetermined group of participants Half-duplex voice conversation over a cellular channel even if several participants per radio cell on the Group conversation are involved.

"Gruppenruf-Kanal" : Kombinierte Auf- und Abwärtsverbindung, die in jeder Funkzelle des versorgungsgebietes für einen bestimmten Gruppenruf aufgebaut werden muß. Die Aufwärtsverbindung kann nur durch den jeweils sprechenden Teilnehmer benutzt werden. Alle Mobilfunkteilnehmergeräte (Mobilstationen) der lediglich zuhörenden Teilnehmer einer Funkzelle empfangen über die gemeinsame Abwärtsverbindung.

"Gruppenmitglieder" sind Teilnehmer, die zu einer bestimmten Gruppe gehören, welche durch eine bestimmte Gruppenidentifikation (Gruppen-ID) gekennzeichnet ist.

"Gruppenruf-Mitglieder" sind Gruppenmitglieder oder Festnetzteilnehmer, die an einem Gruppenruf teilnehmen.

"Gruppenruf-Attribute": Dazu gehören das Versorgungsgebiet (Service Area), Festnetzteilnehmer-Identifikationen (Rufnummern der Festnetzteilnehmer).

The following terms are used for the further description:

"Group call channel": Combined upward and downward connection that must be set up in each radio cell of the coverage area for a specific group call. The uplink can only be used by the speaking subscriber. All mobile radio subscriber devices (mobile stations) of the only listening subscribers of a radio cell receive via the common downlink.

"Group members" are participants who belong to a certain group, which is identified by a certain group identification (group ID).

"Group call members" are group members or fixed network subscribers who participate in a group call.

"Group call attributes": These include the service area, fixed network subscriber identifications (phone numbers of the fixed network subscribers).

The "Group Call Register" in the After corresponding registration, the mobile network contains Group call attributes.

The "Group Call Anchor MSC" is that MSC (Mobile Switching Center = Mobile switching center or center) for the Processing and maintaining a group call responsible is.

A "group call relay MSC" controls one radio cell Coverage area not covered by the group anchor MSC can be controlled for group calls where the coverage area over the coverage area one. Mobile switching center (MSC) goes beyond.

Currently at ETSI / SMG (SMG = Special Mobile Group, responsible for GSM) in the working group SMG3 ASCI (ASCI = Advanced speech call items) the new features Group communication (Voice Group Call Service) and Hunt Group [Voice Broadcast Service] standardized.

In documents Tdoc SMG3 94U134 "Draft GSM 03.68, version 1.2.0, November 1994, European digital cellular telecommunication system; Voice Group Call Service (VGCS) - Stage 2 (GSM 03.68) "and Tdoc SMG3 94U135" Draft GSM 03.69, Version 1.2.0, November 1994, European digital cellular telecommunication system; Voice Broadcast Service (VBS) - Stage 2 (GSM 03.69) "will be the technical realization described.

In both documents it is noted in section 4.2.1.1 that the area ["service area" of a group communication or a voice broadcast (collective call)] on the Coverage area of a single mobile switching center can be limited. As an option during implementation this coverage area can also be larger than that Coverage area of a mobile switching center.

The two documents mentioned above describe that in a group communication or in a collective call also fixed network subscribers - in the documents "Dispatcher" called - can be included.

The numbers of the dispatchers that are in a particular Group communication or a specific collective call are to be included in the group call register [Group Call Register (GCR)] saved. (In the documents currently spoken by a maximum of five dispatchers).

When establishing a group communication or one The group call anchor MSC must use the call in the Group call register stored numbers of group call members establish the connections to the dispatchers.

In the case of group communication, the lines become the Dispatchers directly to a so-called conference bridge in the Group call anchor MSC switched. The dispatchers need in Contrary to the "ordinary" group call members Not to signal request to speak; they can constantly speak.

In the case of a collective call, the lines become the Dispatchers to the outputs of the distribution function in the Mobile switching center switched.

A group communication or a collective call can be from authorized mobile subscribers as well as authorized users Fixed network participants are established.

In the patent application EP-A-0663784 a method for Processing calls between mobile and fixed Subscriber terminals described. There is a mobile network switching and a fixed network switch in a mixed Communication network provided that a mobile network, a landline and has a database based on those Mediations are accessed together. These mediations call all or some of the data based on group data Subscriber terminals from groups that are a combination of have mobile and fixed subscriber terminals.

In the patent application EP-A-0649666 a mobile network is included a radio exchange to which one computer-controlled conference service facility so is connected that they have at least three Replicates subscriber lines. These are virtual Associated participants between whom the conference service facility Point-to-multipoint connections switch. to The placement of a participant conference mediates the Radio exchange Point-to-point connections between real participants and the virtual participants.

In US-A-5287542 is for a Communication network described a central control unit, that efficiently serves the group of participants Group call can expand. If the group of participants is one first communication group to be expanded, connects the central control unit at least part of another Communication group with the first communication group. After that the central control unit processes the communication in the first communication group and in the part of the second Communications Group.

It is the object of the present invention, a method to establish communication links for groups and / or To create a collective call for subscriber devices by which the Coverage area of a group communication or a collective call in a simple way over the coverage area of a Mobile radio switching center can be expanded.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of patent claim 1 solved. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of subclaims.

Advantages of the invention

The subject of the application with the features of claim 1 has the following advantage:
The invention makes it possible to extend the coverage area of a group communication or a collective call very simply over the coverage area of a mobile switching center. The method according to the invention even allows group communication or collective calls in different networks, which can be used very advantageously, for example, in a border area.

The invention takes advantage of the fact that the group call anchor MSC has the functionality Dispatcher via the im Group call registers stored phone numbers in one Include group communication or a collective call. Instead of the number of a dispatcher, you can use the group call register also the number for another Group communication or another collective call get saved.

By specifying those saved in the group call register Telephone numbers can also be very easily e.g. a Group communication or a collective call in another Network (PLMN, Public Land Mobile Network) to an existing Group communication or an existing group call "added". You could call this approach Denote cascading.

The expansion of the coverage area one Group communication or a collective call to the described manner leads to the fact that in the Mobile switching center of the added area for the Group communication or the collective call a second Conference bridge is provided. This contradicts Tdoc SMG3 94U134, Section 7.1, in which expressly noted is that there should only be one conference bridge ("... there shall be no secondary bridges in BSCs or group relay MSCs ").

If the cascading of conference bridges is technically speaking should cause problems, so you can use the second Avoid the conference bridge simply by Extension area (area outside the Coverage area of the group anchor MSC) so to speak, each desired radio cell ("extension cell") individually to the "Main conference bridge" in the group call anchor MSC turns. The prerequisite for this is that the person concerned Radio cells corresponding numbers for one Group communication have been assigned. In this case should be more than previously in the group call register discussed five numbers for dispatchers (and "Extension cells") are provided.

drawing

An embodiment of the invention is in the drawing shown and in the description below explained. Parts of two mobile radio networks are shown schematically two landlines.

Description of an embodiment

Mobilfunkvermittlungsstellen MSC10, MSC11 und MSC12, von denen die Mobilfunkvermittlungsstelle MSC10 zugleich eine Mobilfunkvermittlungsstelle mit Überleiteinrichtung für den Übergang von und zu einem Festnetz F1 ist;

Basisstationssteuereinheiten (Base Station Controller), von denen jeweils mehrere einer Mobilfunkvennittlungsstelle zugeordnet sein können und von denen hier nur eine, nämlich BSC11 dargestellt ist;

Basisstationen BTS (Base Transeiver Stations), die jeweils von den Basisstationssteuereinheiten gesteuert werden und Funksignale für Mobilfunkteilnehmergeräte abgeben;

Mobilfunkteilnehmergeräte TM111, TM101, TM121, TM201, die sich jeweils in einem Versorgungsgebiet einer Mobilfunkvennittlungsstelle aufhalten;

Besucherdatenbanken VLR10, VLR11, VLR12 (Visitor Location Registers), die jeweils einer Mobilfunkvermittlungsstelle zugeordnet sind und Daten zu denjenigen Mobilfunkteilnehmern bereithalten, die sich in ihren jeweiligen Zuständigkeitsbereichen aufhalten, welche jeweils aus mehreren Funkzellen des Versorgungsgebietes einer Mobilfunkvermittlungsstelle bestehen können;

Heimatregister HLR10, HLR12 (Home Location Register), die über die Rufnummern von Mobilfunkteilnehmergeräten adressiert werden und auch Daten darüber enthalten, welche Besucherdatenbank ein Mobilfunkteilnehmergerät zur Zeit erfaßt hat.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawing. The GSM architecture is used as an example for the mobile radio networks. The cellular network M1 has the following components, among others:

Mobile switching centers MSC10, MSC11 and MSC12, of which the mobile switching center MSC10 is also a mobile switching center with a gateway for the transition from and to a fixed network F1;

Base station control units (base station controllers), of which several can each be assigned to a mobile radio switching center and of which only one, namely BSC11, is shown here;

Base stations BTS (Base Transeiver Stations), which are each controlled by the base station control units and emit radio signals for mobile radio subscriber devices;

Mobile radio subscriber devices TM111, TM101, TM121, TM201, each of which is located in a coverage area of a mobile radio switching center;

Visitor databases VLR10, VLR11, VLR12 (Visitor Location Registers), which are each assigned to a mobile switching center and hold data on those mobile subscribers who are in their respective areas of responsibility, which can each consist of several radio cells in the coverage area of a mobile switching center;

Home registers HLR10, HLR12 (Home Location Register), which are addressed via the phone numbers of mobile radio subscriber devices and also contain data about which visitor database a mobile radio subscriber device has currently recorded.

A connection to the fixed network F1 is via the Mobile switching center with gateway MSC10 manufactured, of which several in a cellular network can be present. On the landline (here one ISDN network) is one for the transition Transit exchange provided by TrVSTa Connections to local exchanges OVST and finally can be switched to fixed network subscriber devices TF1.

If a mobile subscriber device from the landline F1 called, then the mobile switching center with Gateway MSC10 to a "Gateway MSC", which the Home register HLR10 and visitor databases, if applicable queries and then for the corresponding connection establishment provides.

According to the previous ideas of Standardization committees for group communication and Group calls are now about the architecture described so far group call registers going beyond a mobile radio network provided, the location of which is not specified. How indicated by broken lines, could be one Group call register GCR '(Group Call Register) issued by a mobile switching center and a home register be arranged. Another possibility is the local assignment of a group call register GCR10 to a home location register HLR10.

Such a group call register is identified by the number for a group or collective call request addressed and by the mobile switching center with gateway MSC10 queried. In this way the Mobile switching center with gateway, which Cellular and / or landline subscriber devices in the Group communication or be included in the collective call and in which radio cells they are located.

The mobile switching center with gateway MSC10, which in this context is also a group call anchor MSC is building (regardless of whether the group or Group call request from a cellular subscriber device or a fixed network subscriber device) the connections into the cells to be included and to the Fixed network subscriber devices (especially to the so-called Dispatcher or the dispatcher).

The operation then runs in such a way that with a collective call only the subscriber who can make the collective call can speak has established (fixed network subscriber or mobile subscriber). The other group call members could only listen.

In the case of a group call, however, all group call members can speak alternately, being through the radio system it is ensured that only one person at a time Mobile subscribers receive this permission to speak. Fixed network participants (dispatchers) can speak at any time. A mobile subscriber's speech request is activated by pressing the talk button is displayed (push-to-talk function).

The interconnection of all transmission channels for the Group or collective calls are made in the group call anchor MSC MSC10 in a so-called conference bridge. So far it is planned that here only the connections to the dispatchers and to the Cells in the service area be interconnected.

The aim of the method according to the invention is now the expansion the area of a group communication or one Group call by "dialing" another one Group communication or another collective call via those stored in the group call register (dispatcher) Phone numbers.

1.1. Weitere Gruppenkommunikation bzw. weiterer Sammelruf im selben Mobilfunknetz (PLMN) M1. Das Protokoll zwischen den Mobilvermittlungsstellen des Mobilfunknetzes M1 (MAP-E) braucht dabei nicht erweitert zu werden.

1.2. Weitere Gruppenkommunkikation bzw. weiterer Sammelruf in einem anderen Mobilfunknetz (PLMN) M2.

2.1. Bei Gruppenkommunikation Schaltung einer weiteren Konferenzbrücke KB12 in einer MSC12 die für den hinzukommenden Bereich zuständig ist. Dieses Verfahren ist nicht auf eine hinzukommende Mobilfunkvermittlungsstelle beschränkt. Das Versorgungsgebiet der Gruppenkommunikation kann theoretisch beliebig viele Mobilvermittlungsstellen umfassen. In jeder Mobilfunkvermittlungsstelle ist dann eine Konferenzbrücke vorzusehen.

2.2. Bei Gruppenkommunikation werden alle hinzuzunehmenden Funkzellen einzeln an die Konferenzbrücke in der Gruppen-Anker-MSC MSC10 angeschlossen.

The invention opens up the following possibilities:

1.1. Further group communication or another collective call in the same mobile radio network (PLMN) M1. The protocol between the mobile switching centers of the cellular network M1 (MAP-E) need not be expanded.

1.2. Further group communication or another collective call in another mobile radio network (PLMN) M2.

2.1. In the case of group communication, switching of another conference bridge KB12 in an MSC12 that is responsible for the additional area. This method is not limited to an additional mobile switching center. The coverage area of group communication can theoretically include any number of mobile switching centers. A conference bridge must then be provided in each mobile switching center.

2.2. With group communication, all radio cells to be added are individually connected to the conference bridge in the group anchor MSC MSC10.

The widest option is 1.2 Group call anchor MSC MSC10 from the group call register GCR10 Data are retrieved (especially one or more Groups or collective numbers for a cellular network M2), with their support over the landline F1 a second Group or collective call request in the second Cellular network M2 is initiated. For this, the group or Group phone number from a transit exchange TrVSTb the landline F1 like any other phone number either over a direct route W or via a detour U via a landline F2 transmitted in a mobile radio network M2. There is one Group call anchor MSC and at the same time Mobile switching center with gateway, namely in a mobile switching center MSC20 one Conference bridge KB20 for group or group calls in Mobile network M2 switched, so for example Mobile subscriber device TM201 in a cell in Coverage area of the mobile switching center MSC20 group communication or participate in the collective call who is interested in group call members of all in the Drawing shown networks M1, M2, F1 and F2 can turn.

Additionally or alternatively, a mobile radio subscriber device can TM121 in a cell in the service area of the Mobile switching center MSC12 in one Group communication or a collective call are included, by the group call anchor MSC MSC10 from the Group call register GCR10 data can be called up with their Support in the mobile switching center MSC12 one second group or collective call request in the Coverage area of this mobile switching center MSC12 is initiated, in which the conference bridge KB12 is switched.

One way to add additional circuitry You can do without conference bridges KB12 or KB20 by making the group call anchor MSC MSC10 from the group call register GCR10 retrieves data with whose Support in another mobile switching center MSC12 and / or MSC20 individual call requests for Group calls or collective calls in individual cells in the Coverage area of this other mobile switching center MSC12 or MSC20 and / or in a fixed network F1, F2 become.

It is also worth mentioning that when MSC10 the group call anchor MSC , MSC11 serves as a so-called relay MSC, if the "service area" of the group or collective call cells in the Coverage area covered by both the MSC10 and the MSC11.

Claims (4)

1. Method for setting up message connections for a group call and/or a global call for subscriber appliances, at least one of which is normally a mobile radio subscriber appliance (TM111) in a mobile radio network (M1), although it need not be, via a conference link (KB10) which is connected in this mobile radio network (M1) after receiving a group or global call request and subsequent checking of a group call register (GCR10) by a group call anchor mobile radio switching centre (MSC10),
   characterized in that the group call anchor mobile radio switching centre (MSC10) calls up data from the group call register (GCR10), with whose assistance

   either a second group or global call request is initiated in a second mobile radio network (M2) in which a second conference link (KB20) is connected,

   or a second group or global call request is initiated in another mobile radio switching centre (MSC12, MSC20) in the supply area of this other mobile radio switching centre (MSC12, MSC20), and in which a second conference link (KB12) is connected.
2. Method according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that the other mobile radio switching centre (MSC20) is part of a second mobile radio network (M2), and the second group or global call request is passed from the group call anchor mobile radio switching centre (MSC10) via a landline network (F1) to the second mobile radio network (M2).
3. Method according to Claim 2,
   characterized in that the second group or global call request is passed from the first-mentioned landline network (F1) via a second landline network (F2) to the second mobile radio network (M2).
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the conference link (KB10) is connected by means of a mobile radio switching centre to a gateway device (MSC10).

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